What medication should be premedicated with before administering Taxol (paclitaxel)?

Premedication before administering Taxol (paclitaxel) is commonly done with dexamethasone due to its effectiveness in preventing hypersensitivity reactions. Taxol can cause allergic reactions because it is formulated with a solvent (Cremophor EL) that can trigger such responses. Dexamethasone acts as a corticosteroid that helps mitigate inflammation and allergic reactions, thus making the administration of Taxol safer and more tolerable for patients.

While other medications are used for pain relief or fever reduction, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, they do not serve the same purpose in preventing hypersensitivity reactions associated with Taxol. Prednisone is another corticosteroid, but dexamethasone is more commonly preferred in this specific context due to its efficacy and duration of action. Therefore, dexamethasone is the appropriate choice for premedication before administering Taxol.